Anthony Velazquez held in LAX on his way to meet Tim Tszyu

SYDNEY, Australia – Tim Tszyu’s opponent Anthony Velazquez has been delayed on his way to Australia for their catchweight contest on December 17.

The 29-year-old Velazquez lives in Springfield, Massachusetts, and had made it as far as LAX airport in Los Angeles when a ticketing issue prevented him from boarding his flight to his opponent’s home city.

There is a 16-hour time difference between Springfield and Sydney and a 19-hour time difference between Sydney and LA. 

“Something happened with the flight ticket,” Matt Rose of No Limit, the promoters of Tszyu-Velazquez, told BoxingScene. “He was supposed to board the plane 24 hours ago, so I’m hoping he’s on it now. The visa’s all good.”

Asked what that potentially meant for Velazquez’s hopes of acclimatising in time for fight night, Rose responded: “Because we’re bringing him in fairly early he’ll be sweet. I was waiting for a call, actually, because he’ll land in the morning if he’s got on the [new] flight.”  

Tszyu, 31 and who will fight Velazquez at 157lbs, was among those who learned of the development on Wednesday. 

“Are you serious?” he responded. “Don’t scare me. Is he coming down here or what?

“Let’s just get him here, I don’t care. Give him every advantage he needs. I just want him here.”